1st Week Down

So, last Monday Emma started Kindergarten!  The question I'm sure every parent asks when their kid is hitting another milestone - where has the time gone?!  I feel like I just had her and now she's getting on a bus twice a day leaving and coming back to me.  So, of course we had to do the 1st day of school pictures - see below. 

Let's be honest I was also a little nervous to see how the younger two would be with her gone.  As Avalynn kept having meltdowns when we'd talk about Emma going to school.  Thankfully all has been smooth - at least for the 1st week.  ;o)  But we are all 3 excited when it's time to go pick her up at the bus stop. 

For now it's been fun packing her lunches, been using big cookie cutters for her sandwiches, and trying to make the sides healthy and fun as well. Ask me that question in a couple months and we'll see if my answer is still the same. 

And I have to say I'm glad last week was only a 4 day week for her and this week will be a 4 day week as well, because let me tell you, she was exhausted by Friday, getting used to all day school.  

Have to share a funny story as we are waiting for her bus to arrive Emma and me had this conversation: 

Emma - "Go ahead, start crying"

Me - "What?!" 

Emma - "You said you're going to be sad when I leave, go ahead and cry now"

Me - "I'm not sad, I'm very excited for you!"

And I held it together, teared up for a couple seconds when she left me to get in line for the bus and that was it. 

I'm going to end this post with this text I sent to the bestie after she boarded the bus and rode away.  "Not going to lie, when the bus left I sort-of wish I had my van to make sure she actually arrived at school!  First time mom problems!" 

Wordless Wednesday

My girls' are quite creative and came up with these fun outfits earlier this week. 

Motivation to Workout & Playlists

So, let's be honest - I definitely do NOT always want to workout.  So, when I don't want to, I just remember this quote I see pop up quite frequently on my Insta-feed "I never regret the workout I did, but I will regret the workout I didn't do." <- Honestly, how true is that though!  
Great example of this was Friday.  It was one of those days with the kids', as soon as the Hubs' came home and saw me he said to me, it looks like we both are having the same kind of day.  He just wanted to stay home and relax and I just wanted to go - after an evening of errands by myself, came home to help get the littles to bed and unload the vehicle.  He kicked me out of the house, forcing me to the gym, he knew I had wanted to go, but at that point I was just feeling drained.  So, I went and worked out HARD for an hour and 20 mins! I pushed myself and left there feeling even more drained, but in a good way.  Do you get that workout high?

Here's a screen shot from my cardio.  So, this first one is a machine called an Adaptive Motion Trainer, I swear if I could fall in love with a machine - this baby would be it!  You are dripping in sweat and it's easy on the joints which I love, plus that was 50 minutes and the calorie burn is incredible!!!  And then I did 6.5 miles on the bike in the 2nd screen shot.  

And trust me I know how easy it is to come up with excuses on not working out, whether a quick workout at home or going to the gym.  But in actuality a 1 hour workout is only 4% of your day.  Even 20 minutes would be better then 0 minutes! 

The next thing that helps motivate a good workout is of course having a great workout playlist.  I've been working on getting mine compiled.  I originally googled workout playlists - there are tons of great lists out there.  A pretty cool site I stumbled across is jog.fm, or they have a walking or cycling version as well, you put in your pace per mile, and it'll bring up songs that go with that pace.  So, if you have a 9 minute mile when jogging it tailors songs to that.  You should definitely check it out if you do any of those 3 things.

These are just a couple I've found I like and keep my pace up:

  

- Pitbull - Shake Senora & Something For the DJ's

- Beyonce - Get Me Bodied

- Gym Class Heroes - The Fighter & Ass Back Home 

- Flo Rida - Wild Ones

- Cher Lloyd - Want U Back & Superhero

- Karmin - Brokenhearted

- Justin Bieber - Boyfriend

- Kelly Clarkson - Stronger 

- LMFAO - Sexy and I know it

So, what do you do to stay motivated to workout?  What is on your playlist that just really keeps you pumped while doing your workout?  

InstaFRIDAY

You can follow me @measuringmylife

Here's a recap of our week:

Baby Girl chomping on a little baby. 

 Hubs and I after our workout. 

My Mom, the girls' Mimi, and them in the creek at our annual picnic at my Aunt's & Uncle's.

The Oldest and I stopping for a pic while walking up and down the creek, love the sunrays in this shot. 

Gorgeous sunset. 

Let the older two stay up late one night and they had some fun with left-over 4th of July sparklers. 

Was bummed this turned out blury - but it was to show that I burned 555 calories in 45 minutes, love this machine!  Wish our gym had more then two of them though. 

Sister giving a shoulder ride to the baby. 

Hubby ran in for some milk and when he came back to the car he said he got him and the girls' a treat and me my own special one.  Cracked me up that he remembered I was out of cottage cheese.  

Baby Girl post spaghetti dinner and her first bath in the sink - love having a pic of each of my girls' in a sink bath. 

Finally a DIY Project...

is about to be happening around here.  This weekend my in-law's neighborhood is having their annual yard sale and the Hubs and I spent the evening going around the house gathering up some random stuff to take over there tonight.  One of the things we sent over was our current tv stand.  
My mother-in-law offered me a long dresser she's had in her basement and doesn't want.  We all know how much I love a good furniture re-do, even more so when it's FREE!!  So, here she is in her "glory" right now. 

So, I'm thinking of moving the middle drawers up to the top.  And then tearing out the bottom two rows of drawers.  We have one of those older big stereo's we still listen to that I'd love to still use, but keep it out of sight.  So am sure the Hubs will come up with some doors or something.  Also, everything on top of the dresser now (PS3, Dish box, and router) will be hidden in the top drawers.  

As for the color I'm thinking, something along this picture that I saw on crackgram earlier this week.  I want to add some pops of color - am done being "afraid" and going with whites and blacks. 

What are your thoughts?  Always open to suggestions!

Wordless Wednesday

Source

Had to share this - so fitting to my life, especially #2 & #5.  Can you relate at all?

InstaFRIDAY

You can follow me on Instagram @ measuringmylife

I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday week, we have been busy around here this week - I can't believe it's already Friday! 
Here's a re-cap of the pictures, top to bottom, left to right! 
1. Brynlee playing with a toy - such concentration. 2. We took the older two to Hershey Park - this is a collage of our ride in Chocolate World. 3. Emma & Avalynn checking to see what kind of candy they were so we knew what rides they could go on. 4. Collage of them on rides. 5. Emma and the Hubs on Skyview.6. Girls' got some Icee's! YUMMMY on a very very HOTT day! 7. Me with the girls'. 8. After the day - tan lines. 9. Anniversary dinner with the Hubs', filet mignon, potatoes, steamed cauliflower, we decided to do it picnic style once the kids were in bed and watched True Blood. 10.  Hubs & I during our dinner. 11. Opened up a bottle of wine as well. 12. Sunset on my way home from the gym one night. 13. Came down one morning to this tower display Emma had put together.  14. Collage of the kiddo's and the Hubs' during out July 4th spent at his grandparents pool. 15. Emma and her sparkler. 16. Avalynn and her sparkler.  

7 Year Anniversary

Another year has passed and the Hubs and I are celebrating our 7TH wedding anniversary today!  What a roller coaster the past 7 years have been and thankfully we are at a crest right now, after going through some dips, you really appreciate the high moments.  

Being introduced at the reception.

Finding these photo's and looking back through them, still can't believe we were only 20 when we got married.  Now, looking back, that seems crazy young!  But I wouldn't change any of it.

Cake shot.

I don't know where I'd be if you hadn't walked into my life 12 years ago.  Things definitely don't always go as planned for us, but we always make the most of it.  Thank you for being my bestest friend, my rock, my #1 supporter!! 

First Dance

You've made me into a better person over the years.  You've brought so much laughter and joy to my life.  We've created a beautiful family together.  I love you for who you are and thank you for loving me for who I am - quirks and all! 

Garter time! 

Looking forward to celebrating many more anniversaries with you honey.  I know that this year, our plans didn't pan out, but I'm looking forward to our steak dinner together after the kids are in bed tonight.  
Love you! 

Weight Loss Journey - 4 Month Re-Cap

Four months ago I embarked on one of the toughest journey's yet, it has been frustrating and amazing at the same time.  Let's re-cap on where I started at beginning of February of this year.  And honestly, I've been struggling with my weight a lot the past decade.  I was doing zero activity/exercise and I was eating basically whatever I wanted.  And you could tell just by looking at me that I didn't care enough about myself to change.  But I decided this was the year for that change, we are done having babies and I want to love myself when I look in the mirror.  Every day I'm starting to love the person I see more and more.  So, here's some pics of me end of 2011.  I honestly, do not recognize myself in these pics anymore. 

NYE '11.

Christmas '11

So I started walking.  I couldn't even finish a mile my first day.  Every day I would walk, I'd push myself just a little bit further and trying to keep my pace up so I was getting in some cardio.  I now can do 4 miles in an hour.  I try to wake up around sunrise once over the weekend and do that walk, it's a great way to start the day and get ready for the next week.  
I also picked up Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred, it took me a month in a half because I scheduled in some break days.  I lost 19" from the 1st day vs the 30th day on that video.  I loved that it was challenging and that my workout was done in 25 minutes.  I currently have it lent out to my sister-in-law, but when she's done I plan on doing it again.
I'm currently doing Insanity and am only just in the beginning of my 2nd week of that.  And it really is insane!  But I'm loving it.  There's nothing as great as feeling when you are finished just dripping in sweat knowing that you finished it.  
We also joined our local YMCA tonight, so looking forward to hitting the gym and incorporating some weight training with all of this cardio to help tone.  
Next thing to change has been the way I eat.  So, originally I started on Weight Watcher's online.  It gave me a great stepping stone to get started.  But gradually I stopped writing down my food and points and just started watching what I ate.  I cut out the bad carbs.  Cut back on my sweets.  Am now a water drinker.  I follow the new food plate thing, and make sure 1/2 my plate is fruits & veggies (normally it's veggies).  We've significantly cut back on red meat and have switched to lean ground turkey.  I love that the Hubs' has been completely on board with the majority of the changes I've made (granted I still bake him sweets every week and he gets his "junk" food), and together we are laying the groundwork for a good foundation of what healthy portions and the right foods to eat are, for our girls'.  I want it to be their normal.  I do not want to see them struggle as I have over the past decade.  I've really started to research clean eating and am gradually going to be switching us over to that.  The Hubs' seems a little unsure about it still, but I'm hoping he'll get on board with that too. 
Face shot comparison - 

November '11

June '12

As of this week, I hit a milestone - I'm down 50 LBS people!  I still can't believe all that I've been able to accomplish in such a short time.  I'm officially over the 1/2 way mark of my Goal and Ultimate Goal Weight.  I know there is still a long journey ahead, but every day is a new day and one step closer to reaching that end goal.  

Here's some things I'm loving since dropping the weight - that might not seem like a big deal to most people but to me they are exciting: 

- I can now sit for long periods of time with my legs crossed. 

- A regular bath towel fits completely around me, this is not something that really dawned on me until it happened and then I was so ecstatic! 

- I've dropped 3 bra sizes and 3 clothing sizes and my ring size has gone down 1.5 sizes.

- I enjoy doing more active things with my girls. 

- I actually find myself running up our stairs in the house now with a little hop.  

- We are going to Hershey Park this Sunday with the older two, and I'm not going to be terrified that I won't be able to ride the rides with my girls', like I have been the past two times we went to a theme or water park over the past 5 years.  I was miserable worrying about not fitting.

And now for my current progress pics: 

This was taken last week. 

This comparison was taken Friday 6/29.

I've had a few people ask for my secret - and really there is no "secret".  I work hard, exercising 5-6 days a week (always aim for 6), and I eat right.  There is no magical thing that you can just snap your fingers and things be changed.  I've also found tons of great motivation, inspiration, and great advice on Instagram.  See, I mentioned earlier in the week I was addicted to Instagram.  :o)  
Sorry this turned out to be rather lengthy - and thank you for reading through to the end, if I still have your attention.  :o)

DIY - Jewelry Cleaner

Courtesy of Pinterest I came across an at home way to clean my jewelry.  I was excited to find this recipe as it was all things I had on hand, and nothing harmful! 
What you'll need: - 1 Tbsp Salt- 1 Tbsp Baking Soda- 1 Tbsp Dish Soap- 1 C Water- 1 PC Aluminum Foil 
Directions: - Heat the water up in the microwave for 1 or 2 minutes. - Cut a pc of foil that will cover the bottom of a bowl, like a cereal bowl. - Pour the hot water in the bowl.  Pour in the remaining ingredients.  Place in your jewelry - let it stand for 5-10 minutes. Rinse jewelry in cool water and wipe off with a soft cloth.  Discard solution after each use. 
This has worked great with all of my jewelry - have even used it on some of my great grandmother's pieces that have been handed down to me.  I also use a soft toothbrush to scrub the stones on some of my pieces.  

Here's a picture of the aluminum foil after a cleaning - see that the darkness on the foil?  That's all of the junk it got off my jewelry. 

 

I'm BACK!

Hello Everyone - 
Wow - I've missed you all and blogging everything down.  Thanks to the few of you who checked in with me, it was much appreciated!  Here's what we've been up to. 
In April we got Littlest Miss baptized.  It was a beautiful day with our families and friends who came out to support this journey for her.  And I should mention that the week before it - the whole family got hit with a very very nasty flu bug, that's why Miss A is in her pj's in this picture - she had to stay home.  

I participated in my 1st 5k early May.  It was for Breast Cancer, and my mom, sister, and the younger two girls' and myself walked in honor of an old co-worker of mine. 

At the end of the 5K.

Mother's Day was a wonderful weekend spending the whole weekend with both sides of our families.  Our mom's spoiled me with these goodies.

How cute is this bag from 31 Gifts?  

The 3 who have made me a Mommy!

The oldest graduated from Pre-School in May.   It was an adorable little graduation ceremony that her grandparents and great-grandparents came out to celebrate with us. 

Comparison pic - 1st & Last day of PreK.

All 3 girls, before we left for Emma's ceremony.

Our Little Graduate!

Here's a picture of the presents we made her teachers - courtesy of Pinterest.  These are definitely in my to make pile for some Christmas gifts this year, and put themed goodies in the bags for different people, they were so incredibly easy and quick to make.  Plus her teacher's LOVED them!  

Our latest celebration being Father's Day.  I'm pretty sure the Hubs had a great day with all of us.  :o) 

The blog got a little update as well.  Make sure to check out the icons over on the right, you can see what I'm pinning on Pinterest, check out my latest obsession - Instagram, or there are other ways to check into my happenings between facebook, twitter, or feel free to email me if you have any questions.